Button



Sept. 1.3, 1932.

L. R. CARLEY BUTTON Filed larch l7, 195z Lonavd R Caijley Fatentecl Sept 13, 1932 o rso srrss PATENT OFFICE LEONARD B. OAKLEY, OF WATEBTOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE PATENT 5;.1 BUTTON COMPANY, OF WATERIBURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECT- ICUT BUTTON Application filed March 17, 1932. Serial No. 599,518. 7

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in buttons, and more particularly to what is known as an ornamental top tack button.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a button "that is attached with a tack, when driven into the button and the prong deformed, will tightly hold the button to the cloth to which it is attached, and wherein the attaching process will cause a central ornamentation in the cap of the button.

Tack buttons of this type are generally formed with a shell having an integral hub in which there is placed a vice or anchor, while placed over the shell is a cap which 1s often ornamented or provided with a trademark or other desired insignia. I

It sometimes happens that when these buttons with the ornamental tops are attached to the goods by the usual plunger, there will appear a mark or deformation on the central portion of the cap and these buttons are then not pleasing to the eye and are rejected by the trade.

Another object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a tack button having an ornamental top and wherein the die or anchor of the button is so formed that it will force the metal of the cap up into the die or plunger that is used in the button attaching machine for attaching the buttons to thus place a central ornamentation in the cap. Thus, instead of having a button wherein the cap is defaced in its central portion, there will appear an ornamentation and any otherwise small mark of the plunger will be hidden by the central ornamentation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of so forming the button and attaching the same that when the button is being attached a central ornamental figure will be formed in the button cap rather than what otherwise might be a disfigurement.

Referring now to the drawing showing a cap removed and showing the vice or anchor in place;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the button before the same is attached to the cloth;

Fig. 4 is a top plan and elevation of small vice or anchor.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the buttonand fragmentary portions of the plunger and anvil of a button attaching machine; h,

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of the plunger;

Fig. 7 is a top plan of the button showing the same after being attached and with the now central ornamentation.

Referring now more particularly to the M the moment to Fig. 3,

several views and for there is shown a button shell comprising a hub 1, the body 2, and the outwardly flared rim 3. T he bottom of the hub may be perforated, as at 4. Fitting within the hub 1 may which has a slightbe seen the little anchor 5 ly enlarged rim 6, so that the same may rest on the upper peripheral edge of the hub.

The little anchor .5 has its bottom provided centrally with a slight aperture or opening 8 to register with the perforation 4t in the -'15 hub 1. Of course, many other forms of anchors or vices might be used in the button and I do not wish in any way to limit myself to the present form of anchor used, it only being necessary substantially flush with the upper edge of the flared rim of the button shell.

There will also be seen a button cap 9 that is tightly swedged over the flared rim with the annular ornamentation 10 which, in this instance, consists of a plurality of stars and the two crossed branches.

It might be mentioned here that it is not. always practlcal to put an ornamentation, 9&-

the

that the anchor QX EBIICl CO 3 of the button shell and this cap 9 is providedfi tack, is very apt to disfigure and flatten out* the central ornamentation. On the other hand, if there is no ornamentation provided centrally of the cap, when the plunger that is used for attaching the button descends to drive the button on the tack the mark of the preferred embodiment,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of. the button before the same is attached to the cloth;

Fig. 2 is a similar top plan view with the plunger may appear in the center of the cap to disfigure the button, so that the same has to be discarded.

However, with the present invention, I have overcome this disfigurement by cutting out a desired configuration 12 in the bottom of the small plunger or die 13 which is used 7 in the button attaching machine (not shown) In Fig. 5, I have shown a fragmentary portion of the anvil 14:, on which the tack 15 is fed when the button is to be attached, but it will also be understood that I have not shown any part of the button attaching ma chine, except a fragmentary portion 13 of a plunger or die and an anvil 14.

In Fig. 6, I have shown the cut-out portion 12 in the bottom of the plunger as in the form of a star, although any other desired small ornamentationmight be used.

Also in Fig. 5, I have shown a fragmentary portion of the cloth 16 and it will be understood that when the button heads are fed from one hopper of a button attaching machine and the tacks from anotner hopper thereof, the tack will be centered on the anvil and the button head will be placed right above the same, so that when the plunger 13 descends, it will drive the tack 15 up into the hub and anchor of the button and will be deformed, as at 17, in the usual manner. However, as the tack is driven up into the anchor and deformed, it will bear against the upper inner central surface of the anchor, and will force this relatively thin metal of the cap up into the cut-away portion 12 of the plunger 13 and thereby cause the ornamentation 18 centrally of the cap 9 of the button.

Now the cap or upper surface will not only have the ornamental figures that it previously had, but will also have a small raised ornamental figure 18 that is caused by the now raised center 7 of the anchor forcing the metal of the button cap up into the outlined figure 12 formed in the bottom of the plunger 13.

The button will now appear as if all the ornamentations in the cap were formed previous to the attaching operation, whereas, in reality, of course, the central ornamentation is formed when the button is being attached. Furthermore, on close inspection, no marks or disfigurements can be seen centrally of the cap while, on the other hand, the little ornamentation will appear.

By thus forming the button, the chances of rejected buttons are greatly diminished and it is not necessary to throw out so many buttons that appear damaged, as was heretofore the case.

It will be understood that it is not possible to make the cap with the central ornamentation when the cap is formed for the reason that, as heretofore mentioned, it would be flattened out by the plunger during the attaching process.

It will also be understood that the ornamentation does not necessarilyhave to be in the shape of a star, but might be of any other design that will appear just centrally of the cap, so that the anchor may force the metal up into this cut-out portion of the plunger.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i 1. The combination of a tack button and tack fastener, the button consisting of a shell and an ornamented stamped cap fitting tightly thereon, an anchor fitting within the shell, the upper surface of the anchor having a central protrusion therein, the tack deformed and clenched within said anchor and extending within the said protrusion, a central ornamentation in the cap, and the protrusion of the anchor backing up the under surface of said central ornamentation.

2. A method of forming an ornamental button which consists in placing an anchor within a button shell, swedging an ornamental cap on said button shell, feeding the same through a button attaching machine having the female portion of a die cut in the plunger whereby when the button is attached the prong of the fastener will cause the metal of the cap centrally of the button to be driven up into said die to form a central ornamentation in the cap.

3. A method of forming a central ornamentation in a previously peripherally ornamented cap which consists in placing an anchor within a button shell, swedging an ornamental cap on said button shell, feeding the same through a button attaching machine having the female portion of a die cut in the plunger of said button attaching machine whereby as the button is attached the prong of the fastener will support the anchor and cause a central raised portion thereof to force the metal of the cap up within the die formed in said plunger to thus centrally ornament the cap.

4. A method of forming ornamental cap buttons which consists in applying a previously peripherally ornamented cap to a button shell and centrally ornamenting the cap during the mechanical attaching of the button to the object to which it is attached.

5. A method of forming an ornamental button which consists in applying the previously ornamented cap to a button shell and centrally ornamenting the cap by the driving of the attaching means up into the button shell.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEONARD R. CARLEY. 

